TWO LARGE VERTE-IMARI DISHES QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD, C. 1720 |

each brightly enameled in the center with a vase of flowers in a balustraded terrace within an underglaze-blue and gilt-decorated trellis diaper band reserved with alternating butterfly and flower cartouches, the rim in underglaze-blue with iron-red and gilt painted flowerheads, reserved with elaborately decorated panels of birds or butterfly among blossoms, the underside with flowering branches and a border of six cartouches enclosing a butterfly, crustaceans and floral sprays on a diaper ground, the center of the base with a wheel-engraved Japanese Palace, Dresden inventory mark N:I20 over the letter I (2)

Collection of Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony, King of Poland (1670-1733), Saxony, Dresden, inv. no. N:120 I
Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New York.

One with a restored hairline crack running the length of one side, as well as a restored chip to the foot and restored section of the rim measuring approx. 10 cm; the central medallion enamels touched up. The other with a restored hairline running approx. half the length of a side, a filled-in small chip to the rim, and with several scattered small touch-ups to birds and flowers. Each with minor surface wear, firing imperfections, and minor fritting at the rim.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present examples are based on Japanese Imari plates of the same type and decoration. Due to its popularity, the pattern was copied in China, as well as Europe. Notable European factories that copied the pattern include Meissen (circa 1725), Frankenthal and Warsaw faïence (both circa 1770). For examples of all three, along with a Chinese original, see Fredrich H. Hofmann, Das Porzellan, Berlin, 1932, pls. 493-496. These types of dishes were produced in various sizes, a small 22 cm diameter example from the Mottahedeh collection is illustrated in David Howard and John Ayers, China for the West, 1978, Vol. I, pp. 144-145, cat. no. 126, and subsequently sold in these rooms on 30^th January 1985, lot 75. Larger examples measuring 54 cm also exist, such as one in the Salting collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and illustrated in John Ayers, Oliver Impey, J.V.G. Mallet, Porcelain for Palaces, London, 1990, cat. no. 257. The incised numbers on the present pair, N:120 I, indicates that these were in the collection of Augustus the Strong (Augustus II), Elector of Saxony and King of Poland (1670-1733). An avid art collector, he amassed an extensive collection of porcelain which was housed in the 'Japanese Palace' in Dresden. A similarly sized example to the present pair, at 34.4 cm, from the Boymans Van Beuningen Museum, Rotterdam, is illustrated in Christiaan J. A. Jörg, Famille Verte, Groningen, 2011, cat. no. 47, bearing inventory number N:279. Another pair of similar size, and bearing the same inventory number as the aforementioned example, was sold at Christie's London, 11th July 2006, lot 177.